News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Arrest, Purported Injuries in Barrie
Case Number: 23-OCI-330
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Barrie Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the arrest and reported serious injuries of a 24-year-old man in August.
On August 16, 2023, the officer attempted to pull over the driver of a Mazda on Mapleview Drive East for speeding. The man seemingly ignored the officer’s direction to pull over. After he was stopped, he ignored commands to exit the car, exited the car and failed to put his hands on the car when ordered, instead reaching into the vehicle. The officer discharged a conducted energy weapon at the man. The man ignored an order to get on the ground, and the officer forced him to the ground and handcuffed him.
Director Martino accepted that the man’s reported injuries likely occurred in the altercation during his arrest, but found no reasonable grounds to conclude they were the result of unlawful conduct. The man was taken to hospital and reportedly diagnosed with a concussion and broken toe.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES